Why are the Pakistani Taliban being given another opening?
James Forsyth 2:07pmThere is a depressingly predictable story in The New York Times today about reconstruction in the Swat Valley. Here’s the key section:
“the real test of Pakistan’s fight against the Taliban in Swat will take place here, in the impoverished villages where the militant movement began.
But more than two months after the end of active combat, with winter fast approaching, reconstruction has yet to begin, and little has been accomplished on the ground to win back people’s trust, villagers and local officials say.
The lag, they argue, is risky: It was a sense of near-total abandonment by the government that opened people to the Taliban to begin with, they say, and the longer people are left to fend for themselves, the greater the chance of a relapse.”
This is infuriating. As soon as the Pakistani’s military campaign was over in Swat, it was obvious that a rapid reconstruction effort was needed to prevent more people from being radicalised and to stop the Taliban and other Islamist groups from being able to step in to fill the gap left by government. But once again, this hasn’t happened.
As the article makes clear part of the problem is that aid organisations and the UN do not operate in places where the security conditions are deemed too dangerous. A Taliban bomb which kills several UN staff succeeded in halting the UN’s reconstruction work.
But to stop reconstruction because of the security situation is self-defeating; it makes it far too easy for the Taliban to achieve its goals. What is needed—given that foreign militaries operating openly inside Pakistan’s borders is a no-go—are UN PRTs which would add a military presence to reconstruction efforts and enable it to continue despite Taliban attacks.
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Simon Stephenson
October 11th, 2009 3:08pm Report this comment"Why are the Taliban been given another opening?"
Eh?
Lunchtime O Booze
October 11th, 2009 4:10pm Report this commentShurely shome mishtake.
patrick
October 12th, 2009 5:36am Report this commentWhat are UN PRTs? There are ISAF PRTs in Afghanistan but they would not be allowed to operate in Pakistan. The real alternative are the the civilian firms in Afghanistan that are funded by donors, eg USAID but take armed guards etc for their own protection whilst carrying reconstruction tasks. What chance however that the Pakistan Government or more specifically the Pakistan Army will let them in. It makes you wonder how keen the Pakistan Government/Army are to defeat the militants
michael
October 12th, 2009 11:17am Report this commentWhat is needed is military reconstruction teams drawn from the engineers of the US & UK military. Armed to the teeth and given clearance to shoot anyone who obstructs them
michael
October 12th, 2009 4:08pm Report this commentwhat we need 'are' military... I dont think so.
What we dont need from an American led UN, is a squillion page risk assessment backed by the desert rats...the eighth army of ambulance chasers.
But that is the way of big government.
ratee
October 13th, 2009 12:35am Report this commentBut the common man in Swat and Malakand Division as a whole were so brutalized by the Taliban most are ready to fight with the Pakistan Army and the Taliban dare not enter Swat again.
Around 12,000 have already joined the local police to ward of any re-entry of Taliban in this 100 kilometers territory.
However you right that they should be helped materially and morally to re-settle in this area by the world community.
Ratee Minhas
October 13th, 2009 12:44am Report this commentThe people of Swat after the brutal rule of Swat region are ready to fight against any re-entry of Taliban in the area. Many agencies have interviewed people in these areas and they welcomed the victory of Pakistani army.
Around 12,000 have joined their police that will be responsible for guarding them from the Taliban.
But you are right that the international community must help these brave people who have lost their everything as soon as possible so they can themselves protect themselves from the Taliban.
Yet you are quite right that they should be helped as soon as possible by the international community in the reconstruction so they realize that their sacrifices are being appreciated.
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